Chapter 587 (1/2)

...among the precious and universal endowments of humanity, there are two which persist even in the face of social, economic, and metaphysical Systems which so routinely insist otherwise: that all of Humanity was created equal; and that the architecture and growth of vocations and talents remains solely with the purview of the individual, no matter how benign and knowledgable any other influence may seem.

It is an unavoidable eventuality that the realities of our so pressing human conditions and our high minded reflections upon our living morality feel the insidious creep of influence from our growing reliance on power as a necessary tool of survival. But let it be known thusly throughout the land: Power without legal mandate is villainy, and the seizure of systemic power without the considered affirmation of the populace is tyranny. Although indispensable to the reality of enacting the virtuous rule of law, power alone is a naked threat that will inevitably find victims amongst our most vulnerable. To believe otherwise is an exercise in deliberate foolishness.

But slow moves the shield held by many hands. As such, a scaffolding of tiered influences and mutual oversight is not only necessary but an organic presence within our nation-state. To that end, towards the fruitful pursuit of justice, we, the citizens of Rawlands, assent to the founding of the Great Orders, which-

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With a sigh, Tessa sat back. She took several seconds to rub her eyes, then she peered out the tiny window in the corner of her office. Although the window was largely old world glass, it had still grown dirty over the past few years. The people in the City Hall of Franksburg hadn’t thought to hire someone to clean it as had been done in the old days. As a recently elected councilwoman in Franksburg, Tessa had the ability to push for funds to be put towards hiring staff for City Hall, but…

Blinking away any lingering weariness, Tessa turned back to the paper in front of her. There were more important things than cleaning right now.

The resolution in front of her, which was the crystallization of the platform that Tessa had run on, had already been passed by Franksburg generally. She was currently rereading and altering the operative language in the introduction to be submitted to Rawlands generally. It was her first task on the City Council, and it was exactly what Tessa wanted to be doing.

But it was just so exhausting.

Besides, there was a chance that it wouldn’t be accepted broadly, and Tessa wanted to do everything she could to ensure that wouldn’t happen. Although it would likely become contentious down the line, not enough time had passed since the arrival of the System for people to disagree with the all “humans created equal” portion.

But if the System stayed, 30 years down the line NCCers tried to push that through the government? Tessa had no doubt a powerful and selfish individual would simply destroy the government. She shivered, feeling the vestiges of an old fear.

A face appeared in her mind, with black hair and piercing emerald eyes. The very air around him seemed to warp. He was so powerful that simply being angry made everything rip and tear around him. Tessa dreaded finding out what that did to a person’s personality, having that power.

It wasn’t that she hated Randidly for what he did. He was… young and foolish. And this world had given him more power than he could ever understand.

Almost a year and a half ago, after returning to the employ of the biggest crime boss in the city, Tessa swore that she would find her own power, her own voice. And she wouldn’t rely on the System to do it.

Thinking back, Tessa laughed. Well, with only some help from the System. She had worked hard and taken courses at the Franksburg Academy that had opened up. Due to the size of the city and out of habit, Franksburg still needed professionals. So Tessa had spent a year in a crash course as to how to be a lawyer. Afterward, she clerked for a judge for several months.

When the influx of refugees from the borderlands meant a new council seat was opening up, Tessa tossed aside her steady position and campaigned relentlessly for a month. And she had won.

A part of her wanted to finally take a chance to relax, but another refused. Even now, rumors of the things Randidly was accomplishing reached her ears. If she wanted to someday become an influence that could restrain him, she needed to rise up a lot more in politics. Inwardly, there were some days that Tessa regretted running for city councilwoman rather than the more influential Senator position, that would attend the Assembly of Rawlands, but in her heart, Tessa knew the only reason she had won her position was that a lot of capable candidates had gone for the three Senator positions.